Camden

Camden's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in relationships, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population passed 200,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Camden increased by 11%, from about 198,000 to 220,000.

The addition of about 22,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Camden was home to, on average, 72 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Camden

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Camden increased by one year, from 32 to 33 years.

This cosmopolitan area had a slightly higher average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 5,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 13% of people in Camden are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Camden saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (41%) households in Camden had only one person, compared with 46% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.7% to 9.8%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of one-person households occurred in Newham (from 34% to 26%).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

Camden saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

In 2011, just under 1 in 18 (5.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Camden said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 4.2% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week increased from 7.6% to 7.7%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week occurred in Welwyn Hatfield (from 6.6% to 8.0%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Camden increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Camden, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Camden

The percentage of Camden residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.6% to 5.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Camden residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Camden, but at a slower rate than in Islington (one of the most statistically similar areas to Camden based on ONS area classifications).

In Camden, the proportion of private renting increased from 25% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Islington increased from 17% to 27%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15% to 25%.

The rate of social housing in Camden fell from 37% to 33%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 35% to 32%.

Private renting in Camden increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Camden, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Camden

The number of people in Camden from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 73% to 66%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across London (from 71% to 60%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Camden from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to just over 35,000 in 2011 (from 12% to 16%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 16,000 to about 18,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.3% to 8.2%.

About 12,000 people (3.8%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 7,400 in 2001 (5.6%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Camden decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Camden residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Camden residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Camden decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Camden, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Camden, while rising in statistically similar Islington.

In Camden, the proportion came down from 73% in 2001 to 72% in 2011, while across England it went up from 70% to 71%. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 62% to 60%.

The proportion of households with children in Camden remained close to 22%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 5.4% to 6.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Camden stood out from other areas for relationships

The percentage of married people increased here, while falling across London and England.

In Camden, the proportion went up from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 42% to 40%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Camden increased from 54% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 11%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of employed people increased here, but at a slower rate than in statistically similar Islington.

In Camden, the proportion of employed people increased from 45% in 2001 to 46% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Islington increased from 47% to 51%.

Across London, the share of employed people decreased from 51% to 51%.

The rate of unemployment in Camden fell from 4.9% to 4.5%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 12% to 13%.

The rate of employment was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Camden

The number of people in Camden that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 23,000 in 2001 to just under 27,000 in 2011. As a share of the total population, the percentage remained close to 12%.

The percentage increased by less than the average across London (which remained close 12%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Camden that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 93,000 in 2001 to about 75,000 in 2011 (from 47% to 34%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 44,000 to about 56,000 (from 22% to 25%).

Just over 45,000 people (10%) did not state their religion, up from just under 20,000 in 2001 (21%).

The population who identified as Muslim in Camden remained close to 12%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Camden residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.5% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Camden remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Camden by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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